The pundits have had nothing but good things to say about Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever now that they’re in the midst of an absolute tear. The Fever are coming off a 104-100 overtime victory over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, September 8, which marked their eighth win in 10 games played since the mid-season Olympic break.
One analyst who has jumped on the Indiana hype train is ESPN’s Monica McNutt, who incidentally, wasn’t exactly the biggest Caitlin Clark fan earlier in the season. In fact, the former NCAA star took a lot of flack when she covered one of the Fever’s games earlier in the season, with some fans even going as far as branding her as a Clark hater.
ESPN analyst Monica McNutt arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre.
© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
At this point, however, McNutt has been much more liberal when it comes to heaping praise on Clark and the Fever. In a recent episode of ESPN’s “WNBA Countdown,” the analyst had nothing but good things to say about Clark, her All-Star teammate Aliyah Boston and the rest of the Indiana squad.
“[Clark and Boston] have been the second-best scoring duo in the league behind A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young,” McNutt pointed out. “It has been so incredibly efficient. … To me, the numbers bear it out. They have been on a terrific tear since the All-Star break. But it also looks like they’re playing with joy. They are gelling and having fun.”
Despite her seemingly new-found affinity toward Clark and the Fever, the fans still weren’t too pleased with McNutt. In fact, the supporters did not hold back in calling her out for McNutt’s supposed change of heart.
“The Fever are going to be a problem in the playoffs! Peck and Mcnutt hating life as they have to finally come around and acknowledge reality,” read a comment.
The Fever are going to be a problem in the playoffs!
Peck and Mcnutt hating life as they have to finally come around and acknowledge reality. #WNBA #feverrising
pic.twitter.com/x7XoCJtBA3— Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 9, 2024
“Is it safe to say reality has came for them? 😆” said a user.
The Fever are going to be a problem in the playoffs!
Peck and Mcnutt hating life as they have to finally come around and acknowledge reality. #WNBA #feverrising pic.twitter.com/x7XoCJtBA3
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 9, 2024
“Are they okay? They look like they all need to poop,” reacted another.
The Fever are going to be a problem in the playoffs!
Peck and Mcnutt hating life as they have to finally come around and acknowledge reality. #WNBA #feverrising pic.twitter.com/x7XoCJtBA3
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 9, 2024
“Did mcnutt announce her roty choice? I don’t understand how espn doesn’t ask her this. She got famous talking about CC and put on the daily show She had the unusual take of adding wins to the roty convo and now nothing????” a reaction read.
The Fever are going to be a problem in the playoffs!
Peck and Mcnutt hating life as they have to finally come around and acknowledge reality. #WNBA
#feverrising pic.twitter.com/x7XoCJtBA3— Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 9, 2024
“All their previous knowledge and experience in all things WNBA, and @espn couldn’t predict Clark’s impact better than the “new fans”? They were so adamant on downplaying & spreading her flowers around, but now it’s obvious @CaitlinClark22 is the real deal. Suck it, bitter Bettys,” said a viewer.
The Fever are going to be a problem in the playoffs!
Peck and Mcnutt hating life as they have to finally come around and acknowledge reality. #WNBA #feverrising pic.twitter.com/x7XoCJtBA3
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 9, 2024
“It seems they finally come to terms. 🤔” a commenter stated.
The Fever are going to be a problem in the playoffs!
Peck and Mcnutt hating life as they have to finally come around and acknowledge reality. #WNBA #feverrising pic.twitter.com/x7XoCJtBA3
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 9, 2024
To be fair, there are more than a few analysts out there who didn’t have much faith in Clark and the Fever early on — especially when Indiana started off its campaign with a 1-8 record.
At this point, these naysayers have been forced to walk back on their initial takes now that Clark and Co. have turned their season around in a major way. Well, at least most of them have.
